Joanne Zakon: December's 2 Those Who Care Recipient

Winston-Salem, NC-- A Triad woman is December's 2 Those Who Care, simply because she remembers the reason for the season.

"I just collect a lot of something... and as I tell my neighbors, I put stuff in bags," says Joanne Zakon as she's stuffing paper bags with Christmas presents.

Joanne Zakon is making Christmas dreams come true at an annual luncheon at the Enrichment Center for special adults.

"We have some sweat shirts, candy, underwear, toiletries and just so that the day of their luncheon, that's their Christmas and they have something to leave with."

For the past seven years, students at the center, located in Winston-Salem, have gone home with a little something special. They get gifts that Joanne starts collecting in the fall.

Cindy Wrenn works at the Enrichment Center, "It's hours and hours that it takes and it's not just from 8 to 5... she's out on the weekends looking for things... wherever she needs to go, she's there."

Joanne found out about the needs here because of her son who lives with disabilities and attends the center.

"His life has given me this life, you know, it's just a lot through him," says Zakon.

Wrenn is appriciative of Cindy's kind heart, "without her, they would not be able to get the gifts that they get.... because we don't have the money to do it. We don't have the time to make the calls and do the pickups."

Joanne says the students can teach us life lessons about appriciating what you have.

"You can just make somebody so happy and there's not... the gratification is unbelievable."